The summit of the Meneltarma in Númenor was hallowed to Eru Ilúvatar, and famed for its great silence, which was not even broken by birdsong. Indeed, the only birds that ever came there were three Eagles that watched over the hallowed place. The Númenóreans considered them to be guardians of good fortune for the Holy Mountain, and for the whole of Númenor, and named them the Witnesses of Manwë.

Though the people of Númenor were free to travel to the summit as they liked, the Eagles would fly down and land on three rocks to watch over them. While the King presided over the Three Prayers each year, the three Witnesses would fly overhead.